Watch case construction



Dec. 2, 1952 N. SLATER 2,619,792

WATCH CASE CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 15, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l i 2. INVENTOR.

NORM/J IV 5L4 7512.

Dec. 2, 1952 N. SLATER 2,619,792

WATCH CASE CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 15, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 iqull. INVENTOR.

NORMA/V 51.4752. BY

Dec. 2, 1952 N. SLATER WATCH CASE CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 15, 1950 INVENTOR. NOZMAN SLATER.

Patented Dec. 2, 1952 Norman ,Slater, Waterbury,

Cochin, ass-ignor to 'Benrus WatchCompany, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of N ew York Application August 15, 1950, Serial No. 179,559

Claims. 1

The present invention relates to an improved watch case construction.

Watch cases are usually composed of two or more structural members, such as a back and a bezel, each of those members being provided with a rim and the members being interfitted with their rims in telescoping relationship. One of the most conventional means for retaining the members in interfitted position are snap-acting elements, .one of the rims being provided with protrusions and the other of the rims being provided with mating depressions having ,a detentlike interaction with the protrusions. vSince the cooperative interengagement exists between adjacent portions of the telescoped rims, the interaction takes place in a direction perpendicular to the plane of those rims. Therefore, while the members themselves may be formed according to mass production methods through the use ofprogressive dies and drawing and stamping operations, the projections and recesses or other snap acting structure, oriented as'they are in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the ,rims,'require a separate manufacturing operation for their formation. The blanks for thecase members, whether they be :formed from sheet stock and subjected to successive drawing operations or from bar stock'and'subjected to successive machining operations, cannot have projections and recesses formed therein in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the rims thereof without a separate operation, usually only performable after the case member hasjbeenfirstshaped and its rim oriented substantially perpendicular to the remainder of the-member.

The formation of lugs to which a bracelet or strap end'is-adapted-to be secured also present significant 'manufacturingproblems. These lugs are usually of an irregular shape and hence the manufacture of the lugs alone presents difficulties. Lugs separate from the rest of the watch case have been used-in the past but-are generally not preferred because of the difliculty experienced in securing them to the watch case with suflicient positiveness and rigidity so that they can perform the securing function for which they are designed. Moreover, the securing process is generally troublesome from a productionpoint. of view. In some cases separate securing means such as rivets, screws orthe l'ike musttbe employed, or

bezelof the watch case r t e h to -ot e of the case members. Integral construction of bezel and ilug requires the fabrication of a unit .having an extremely complicated shape, thus giving rise'to engineering and production prob- :lems which are reflected in the cost of the watch case.

It is ama-J'or object of the present invention to devisea watch case construction in which the various case members can be secured together by snap action interengagement, the members being so designed that the snap-engaging structures can be formed in the necessary course of fabrication of the case members themselves, and

:without requiring any separate manufacturing operation. In this way the cost of the watch case, with regard to assembly-as well as manufacture of the indi-vidu al parts, ismaterially decr ed 5. the snap-acting structures of the prior art it is necessary that the engaging structures on the telescoping rims of the-case members be accurately aligned, since structure on one .rim must engage with cooperating structure on-the other rim. It is another objectof the present invention to avoid thenecessity for the precision reguired in such prior art structures, thus further reducing cost of manufacture to ,a significant extent.

These objects, and other correlative objects subsidiary-thereto, areachieved by providingthe rimof theouter of the case members, here shown as the bezel, with a slot open at the bottom into whichthe lugsecuredto another case member, here shown asthe back, is received, the slot being so constructedasto have a'snap action interengagement with the lug. Since in such a construction.snapactioxtakes place in adirection in the plane of the rimthenecessary structure can'be formed in-the course of fabrication of the bezel itself without any separate operation.

Moreover, since the snap acting structure need not cooperate with any corresponding structure on the rim of the inner case member, the problem of alignment between snap structure on bezel and back, which problem gave rise to considerable expense in manufacture according to the prior art teachings, is completely eliminated.

It is another major object of the present invention to devise a watch case construction in which the lugs are manufactured separately from the remainder of the case and assembled therein with a minimum of difficulty. As here specifically shown, the lugs may be stamped from sheet stock in any desired shape, and may thereafter be secured to the watch case in a simple and convenient manner.

As a separate important object of the present invention, the lugs may be secured in the watch case by means of a snap action interengagement, the case member to which they are to be secured being provided with an open ended slot into which the lugs are passable an within which they are held by snap action. Since this snap action, like the snap action previously described, takes place within the plane of the rim of the case member to which the lugs are secured, the snap acting structure may be formed in that rim in the normal course of manufacture thereof and without aseparate operation. i

Insofar a this aspect of the present invention is concerned, it will be seen that the watch case construction is one in which the lugs are separate from the rest of the case, in which both the lugs and the other case components can be easily and inexpensively manufactured, and in which the lugs can be secured to the case without having to employ separate securing means. It is a further object of the present invention to devise such a case in which the lugs, after they have been secured to the watch case, will blend in with the other case components so as to produce a case having a pleasing and non-functional appearance.

When the lugs are secured to the bezel, as has been the practice heretofore, stresses and strains applied to the lugs, either in normal or abnormal usage of the watch, are necessarily transmitted to the bezel and often tend to cause the bezel to separate from the back. The bezel is a relatively weak structural part because it is cut out at its center to receive the crystal, and hence it is susceptible to distortion. If the tendency of the bezel to separate from the back is wholly successful the case will, of course, come apart. Even if it is only partially successful, a path is provided thereby for dust and moisture to pass through the case and attack the watch movement, with obvious undesirable results.

A further prime. object of the present invention is to devise a watch case construction in which strains exerted on the lugs will either not be transmitted to the other case members at all or will be transmitted to them in such a way as to forestall distortion. One generalized type of construction according to the present invention utilizes a separate frame to which the lugs are secured, strains exerted on the lugs in some or all directions being resisted by that frame and hence not being transmitted to the other case members at all. Those strains not resisted by the frame will be transmitted to the case members in such a way as to distribute the strains over a substantial area of the case members and at comparatively strong portions thereof, thus reducing or eliminating the possibility of distortion.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a watch case has been devised in which the lugs are secured to the back of the case rather than to the bezel, so that even though the bezel is received over the back, distorting forces applied to the lugs will not tend to cause the bezel and back to separate. The back, being stronger than the bezel, will partly resist distorting tendencies, and even if distorted, will carry the bezel with it.

Another object of th present invention is to devise a watch case construction in which the back and the bezel need not be as accurately dimensioned as has been necessary in the past.

More specific objects of the present invention are to devise a watch case construction in which the bezel has a snap action interengagement with lugs attached to the back, so a to retain the case in assembled condition at all times, and to devise a watch case construction in which both the bezel and the back have a snap action interengagement with the watch lugs, the lugs thus serving as connecting structural members holding the case in assembled condition.

To th accomplishment of the foregoing objects and such other objects as may hereinafter appear the present invention relates to a watch case construction as defined in the appended claims and as described in the specification taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective exploded view of one embodiment of the watch case of the present invention, specifically a mens type watch case having a pair of lugs at each of opposite ends thereof.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof, partially in crosssection, showing the watch case in assembled condition;

Fig. 3 is a top view thereof but with the bezel removed;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but with the bezel in assembled position;

Fig. dis a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a variant in the lug-frame construction;

Fig. '7 is a perspective exploded view of another embodiment of the present invention, specifically a ladies type watch case having a single lug at each of opposite ends thereof;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view thereof, the right hand side showing the bezel in position and the left hand side showing the bezel removed;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 9-43 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Ill-IE! of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of the em bodiment of Fig. 7 in assembled condition, the left hand part being shown in cross-section;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the present invention, in which the lugs are attached directly to the rim of the back;

Fig. 13 is an end elevational view thereof;

Fig. 14 is a side elevational view thereof, partially in cross-section;

Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line l5-l5 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 14; but with the bezel removed;

Fig. 17 is a side elevational view of one of the A lugs utilized in the embodiment of Fig. 12;

Fig. 18 is a side elevational view of an alternative lug construction; and

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the manner in which the lug of Fig. 18 may be secured to a watch back. I

Broadly considered, the watch case of the present invention comprises a back generally designatedA, a bezel generally designated B fittable over the back, and a set of lugsgenerally designated C with which the bezel B and, in some embodiments, also the back A, have a snap action interengagement. In the embodiments of Figs. 12-19 the lugs C are secured directly to the back A. In the embodiments of Figs. 1-11 the lugs C are in turn secured to, and are preferably integral with, frames D which fit within the case members, support the lugs C, and facilitate the securing of the lug C to the Watch case. Apertures E are formed in the bezel B, and, in some embodiments, in theback A as well, cooperable with the lugs C to aid in securing the bezel B to the back A and in some instances, the lugs C to the back A.

Theback A, which may be formed of any suitable sheet material such as stainless steel or rolled gold plate, includes a bottom 2 and a substantially vertical upstanding rim 4 connected, if ornamentation so dictates, by a decorative inclined surface 6 (see Figs. '7 through 16), thus defining, on the inside of the back A, a supporting surface on which the movement or movement ring (not shown) may rest. The movement could also be held in position in the back by supporting it on legs, by turning in the top of the rim 4 to define a ledge on which it could rest, or in any other manner.

It will be apparent that the back A is so designed that it may be easily fabricated in a series of drawing and pressing operations carried out in a progressive machine tool, thus facilitating mass production at low cost.

The back rim t may be provided with apertures E for a purpose hereinafter to be explained. If desired, these apertures E could be formed in the blank from which the back A is formed, and in the same operation in which the blank is excised from appropriately shaped sheet stock. In the embodiments of Figs. 1-6 and 12-17 four such apertures E are provided, two in each of opposite ends of the back A, thus permitting the use of two pairs of spaced lugs C such as are common in mens watches. In the embodiment of Figs. 8-11 only two such apertures E are provided, each positioned approximately centrally of one end of the back A and each opposite the other, thus providing for a pair of lugs C, one at each end of the case, such as is the custom in ladies watches. In Figs. 18 and 19 an embodiment is disclosed in which no apertures are provided in the back A.

In the embodiments of Figs. 1-11 the apertures E in the back A take the form of slots It! passing through the rim 4 and open at the rim edge 1. The width of the open end of the slots I0 is somewhat narrower than the width of the body of the slots if this being accomplished by providing inwardly projecting teats 8 at said open end. In the embodiment of Figs. 12-17 the apertures E take the form of holes I 0 passing through the body of the rim 4 of the back A.

The bezel B comprises a suitably shaped body portion if having an inwardly directed rim [4 which secures the crystal IS in place. It also has a depending substantially vertical skirt [8 adapted to slidably fit over and around the upwardly projecting rim l of the back A. While the internal dimension of the'depending skirt [8 of the bezel B must be closely the same as the external dimension of the upstanding rim 4 of the back A in order for the case, when assembled, to

provide an adequate seal for the protection of the watch movement contained therewithin, it is not necessary that these dimensions be as accurately related as the prior art required, since in the present construction the friction between the back A and bezel B is not relied upon to retain those to case components in assembled relationship. That portion of the depending skirt [8 defining the ends of the bezel B are provided with apertures E in the form of slots 20 into which portions of the lugs C are receivable, said slots 2 3, like the slots it}, being shaped to conform relatively closely to the shape of that portion of the lug C passable therethrough. These slots 29, like the slots If in the rim 4 of the back A of Figs. 1-11, are narrowed at the rim edge 22, at which the slots 28 are open, by means of projecti'ng teat-s 8'.

Turning now specifically to the embodiment of l-d, each pair of lugs C are secured to and are preferably formed integral with, a connecting frame D. To facilitate manufacture, they are preferably made of fiat sheet stock which has been appropriately plated and stamped or otherwise shaped. The lugs C themselves comprise a body portion of appropriate shape having a transverse aperture 28 formed therein for the reception of a conventional spring securing pin or the like, an integral fastening portion 23 of reduced height connecting the body portion 24 to the frame pieces 38, those frame pieces having a configuration such that they conform closely to the shape and curvature of the rim 3 of the back A between opposing slots if! at opposite ends of the back A. The width of the fastening portions 23 is such that they will fit snugly within the slots I 53 and 23 (see Figs. 4 and 5) and the height of the fastening portions 28 is somewhat less than the depth of the slots it) and. 23, so that when the fastening portions 28 are fully received within the slots l6 and 2b the teats 8 and 8 of those slots will snap around the fastening portions 28 and thus secure the lugs C and the frames D to the back A and secure the bezel l3 to the remainder of the case by means of snap action interengagement.

The embodiment of Fig. 6 difiers from that of Fig. 5 in that the body portions 30' of the frames D are there configured to conform to and extend along the portions of the rim 4 of the back A between each pair of apertures id at a given end thereof.

The rims 3 and skirt is of the back A and bezel B respectively are provided with'rnating slots through which the winding stem of a watch movement is adapted to project. In the embodiment of Figs. 1-5, one of the frames D must be provided with a corresponding slot 33. In the embodiment of Fig. 6 this is not necessary, since the body portions 33 of the frames D do not extend along the side of the case where the slots 32 are located.

The manner of assembly of the watch case construction thus far specifically described is as follows:

The watch frames D are placed within the back A and the connecting portions 28 are forced through the slots 10, the teats 8 spreading apart because of the resiliency of the material of which the rim 4 is composed until the fastening portions 28 are fully received within the slots til, the teats 8 thereafter snapping over the top of the fastening portions 28 and securing the lugs C to the back A. After the movement has been placed within the back A the bezel B is placed in position and forced downwardly, the fastening portions 28 moving into the slots 20 in the skirt of the bezel until the teats 8' at the open ends of the slots 20 snap under the bottom of the fastening portions 28, thus securing the bezel B to the remainder of the case with a snap action interengagement.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1-5 any longitudinal tension exerted on the lugs C will be resisted by-the frames D and consequently substantially no strain will be transmitted to the watch case. Lateral strain tending to spread the lugs C will be transmitted by the frames D not to the relatively flimsy bezel B but instead to the relatively sturdy back A and, moreover, the strain will be applied not at one point on the rim 4 but along a substantial area thereof. Any such spreading action will therefore be strongly resisted not only by a major portion of the rim 4 of the back A but also by a major portion of the skirt l8 of the bezel B. In addition, it will be noted that any distortion which may take place will occur both in the rim 4 and the skirt l8, and consequently the seal defined therebetween will not be materially affected. Any strain applied to the lugs C tending to bring them closer together will be resisted not only by the frames D but also by the resistance to longitudinal compression of the rim 4 and skirt H3 between the slots is and 20, and hence great resistance to distortion is achieved. Any strain exerted on one of the lugs C tending to move it up or down with respect to the opposite lug C will be resisted by the snap action interengagement between the back A and the bezel B on the one hand and the fastening portions .28 of the lugs C on the other hand. If the strain is sufficient to disturb that snap action engagement no permanent damage will be done, and manual compression of the units back to their position of mutual engagement with the lugs C will be sufiicient to remedy the dislocation.

The embodiment of Fig. 6 has the advantage that each of the two units defined by a single frame D and a pair of lugs C are interchangeable. The embodiment of Fig. 6 is not as resistant to strains exerted longitudinally of the lugs C but is somewhat more resistant to strains exerted laterally thereof.

While assembly of the watch case is facilitated when the lugs C and the frames D have a snap action interengagement with the back A as well as with the bezel B, as shown, the first mentioned snap action interengagement is not essential. The apertures Ii] need not be of the snap acting type, and the frames D could be secured within the back A in any other convenient manner, as by soldering or spot Welding the frames D to portions of the back rim 4 along which they extend.

The embodiment of Figs. 7-11 discloses the instant invention as embodied in a ladies watch case, that case being characterized by having but two lugs C, one at each end thereof. Here, as in the embodiments of Figs. 1-6, the lugs C, the frame D, and the fastening portions 28 may all be integrally formed from appropriate sheet stock. As disclosed the frame D is of one piece construction, comprising a pair of oppositely extending rim conforming elements 39 united at a point opposite the lugs C so as to define a single frame extending inside of and conforming in shape to the entire rim of the back A. In order to rigidify the frame D and facilitate its support within the back A, downwardly bent flanges 3 may be 8 integrally formed with the rim conforming elements 39" and may extend therebelow soas to rest upon the back A.

In this embodiment the lugs C are defined by curled portions 36 of the sheet stock shaped and bent so as to define a comparatively long and comparatively large transverse aperture 26' to which a bracelet or the like can be secured.

In this embodiment the fastening portion 28 is considerably wider and somewhat less thick than the connecting portion 28 of Figs. 1-6, and the slots Ill and 20 in the back A and bezel B respectively are correspondingly shaped. Otherwise the construction of the watch case of Figs. 7-11, apart from ornamental features, is substantially the same as that of Figs. 1-6.

When a single frame D of the type disclosed in Figs. 7-11 is employed practically all of the stresses to which the lugs C may be subjected will be resisted by the frame D, and only insignificant portions of those stresses will be transferred to any of the other watch case components. Whatever stresses are transmitted are distributed over major areas of the rim 4 and skirt The frames D of the watch case of Figs. 1-11 constitute the primary structural elements thereof insofar as resistance to strains applied to the lugs C are concerned. The back A and bezel B, which in prior art constructions constituted the primary structural elements, are no longer subjected to strains and stresses to the same degree as formerly. Consequently, they may be made in a somewhat less substantial manner, the frames D being made of sufficiently sturdy stock as to be capable itself of withstanding those strains and thus insulating the back A and bezel B therefrom. This advantage of the present construction therefore results in economy of material, and particularly of precious metal, the sturdy frames D being hidden and consequently not having to be ornamental, thus making for a much less expensive case construction having overall structural characteristics exceeding those of more expensive prior art constructions.

In the embodiments of Figs. 12-19 the lugs C are formed independently of a frame D and no such frame is employed. There the lugs C are secured directly to the rim 4 of the back A, the rim 4 being provided with apertures E in the form of holes It for that purpose in the embodiment of Figs. 12-17, the skirt 18 of the bezel B being provided with slots 20 which have a snap action interengagement with the lugs C. The lug C of Fig. 17 has a body portion 2% with a transverse aperture 26 therein, an integral ear 38 of reduced height snugly receivable in the holes Ill in the rim 4 of the back A, the holes [0' having a square or rectangular shape corresponding to the crosssectional shape of the car 38, a fastening portion 28 of a height less than that of the adjacent part of the body portion 24 being interposed between the body portion 24 and the ear 38 so as to space the body portion 2% from the outer surface of the rim 4 of the back A and enter the slots 20 in the bezel B. When the ear 38 is inserted into the hole Ill in the back A, its inner surface may be upset or peened over so as to rigidly secure the lug C to the back A. Other securing procedures can also be employed, such as soldering or welding. When the lug of Fig. 18 is employed, which corresponds to that of Fig. 17 except that no car 38 is provided, the rim 4 of the back A need not be apertured at all, fastening portion 28 being welded or soldered thereto.

It will be noted that in this embodiment the lower edge 43 of the fastening portion 28 is spaced upwardly with respect to the lower edge 62 of the adjacent part of the body portion 24 and is also spaced upwardly from the vertex M of the made by the vertical rim 4 and the inclined surface 6 cf the back A, the edge s2 and that vertex 44 being approximately level with one another. In this way the slots 20 are hidden from view when the case is assembled, thus giving the case a massive and very attractive appearance. This feature could, of course, be incorporated into the other embodiments here illustrated.

Assembly of the bezel B on the back A will take place in the same manner as in the previous embodiments, and the snap action interengagement between the slots 28 in the bezel B and the fastening portions 28 of the lugs C will cause the bezel to be retained in assembled position on the case.

In all of the embodiments here disclosed the lugs C constitute the connective elements which act to join the back A and bezel B in assembled relationship. Since the lugs C are, in the first instance, secured to the back A and not to the bezel B, the back A being the inner member, forces applied to the lugs C will be transmitted to that inner member and hence those forces will not tend to cause the case components to separate. In those embodiments in which the lugs C are connected to a rigidifying frame D, that frame takes up all or a major part of the stresses, strains and shocks to which the lugs C may be subjected, thus relieving the back A and bezel B from taking care of those stresses, strains and shocks. This not only constitutes a major strengthening of the watch case but also, by the same token, permits the construction of the back A and bezel B of somewhat less substantial materials than has been required heretofore. This not only represents a saving in cost of material but also in cost of fabrication, since the thinner the back A and the bezel B, the easier it is to form it into desired shape through pressing, stamping and drawing operations.

The snap-action interengagement between the bezel B and the lugs C will retain the case in assembled condition but will permit disassembly thereof by a jeweler. The structure is simple and inexpensive, and all of the components thereof are readily susceptible to mass production. Simple drawing and stamping tools may be employed, preferably in progressive machine tools, for all case components. They may be assembled easily and rapidly even by relatively unskilled personnel. The components are so structurally related that when they are assembled a case of massive and unitary appearance is produced despite the fact that the lugs are not integral with any of the other components. As a result the watch case of the present invention is considerably less expensive to manufacture than prior art watch cases havin comparable operational characteristics, and this without any sacrifice in appearance or function.

It will be apparent that wide variations may be made from the embodiments here specifically illustrated without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Iclaim:

1. A watch case comprising a back with an upstanding rim, lugs secured to said rim at opposite ends of said case and extending out therefrom, and a bezel with a depending rim having slots therethrough communicating with the lower edge of said rim via narrowed end portions which are resiliently spreadable in the plane of said rim, said bezel being assemblable over said back with its rim telescoping over the rim of said back and said lugs being receivable in said slots, the width of said slots corresponding to the width of the lug portions receivable therein and the depth of said slots being sufficiently greater than the height of said lug portions so that when said lugs enter said slot via said narrowed slot end portions, the latter snap beneath said lug portions.

2. The watch case of claim 1, in which said back rim is provided at opposite ends of said back with slots therethrough communicating with the upper edge of said rim via narrowed end portions which are resiliently spreadable in the plane of said rim, said lugs being receivable in said slots, the width of said slots corresponding to the width of the lug portions receivable therein and the depth of said slots being sufiiciently greater than the height of said lug portions so that when said lugs enter said slots via said narrowed slot end portions, the latter snap beneath said lug portions.

3. The watch case of claim 2, in which said lug portions which enter said slots are of reduced dimension relative to the immediately adjacent lug portions.

l. The watch case of claim 2, in which said lug portions which enter said slots are of reduced dimension relative to the immediately adjacent lug portions and have a length substantially equal to the combined thickness of the rims of said back and bezel.

5. The watch case of claim 1, in which said lug portions which enter said slots are of reduced dimension relative to the immediately adjacent lug portions.

6. The watch case of claim 1, in which said lug portions which enter said slots are of reduced dimension relative to the immediately adjacent lug portions and have a length substantially equal to the combined thickness of the rims of said back and bezel.

7. A watch case comprising a back having an upstanding rim with slots therethrough on opposite sides thereof communicating with the upper edge of said rim via narrowed end portions which are resiliently spreadable in the plane of said rim, a lug frame formed of a single piece of sheet material comprising an open-center connecting portion shaped to extend from one slot to the other within said back and to conform to substantially the entire rim shape therebetween, and a pair of outward projections passing through said slots and having a snap-action interengagement with said narrowed slot end portions, the outwardly extending extremities of said projections being looped to define bracelet-end-engaging elements, and a bezel with a depending rim having slots therethrough on opposite sides thereof communicating with the lower edge of said rim via narrowed end portions which are resiliently spreadable in the plane of said rim, said bezel being assemblable over said back with its rim telescoping over the rim of said back and said projections being receivable in said slots with a snap-action interengagement with said narrowed slot end portions.

8. The watch case of claim 7, in which the portions of said projections which enter said slots are of reduced dimension relative to the immediately adjacent lug portions.

9. The watch case of claim '7, in which the portions of said projections which enter said slots are of reduced dimension relative to the immediately adjacent lug portions and have a length substantially equal to the combined thicknesses of the rims of said back and bezel.

10. The watch case of claim 7, in which said frame connecting portion is provided with an integral depending flange bent downwardly from the plane of said connecting portion and resting on the bottom wall of said back.

NORMAN SLATER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number 12 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Ryland Mar. 22, 1932 Carlson Apr. 25, 1933 Holm July 25, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Switzerland Sept. 16, 1915 Switzerland Apr. 1, 1922 Switzerland Oct. 1, 1923 Canada Aug. 12, 1919 Switzerland Dec. 1, 1948 Germany Feb. 12, 1936 

